The fight to diversify tourism-dependent economies, develop solutions to labor shortages, address ways to make housing more affordable, and seek to share business opportunities is the focus of the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Business Exchange It took center stage at the summit.
The two-day event, which ended Wednesday, featured key members of the Vegas Chamber of Commerce, Nevada's largest economic association, joining forces with three of Hawai'i's chambers of commerce, including the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce, the Maui Chamber of Commerce, and the Kauai Chamber of Commerce. I met with the organization. Department of Commerce (has a sister city agreement with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce).
“The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Industry is proud to be a part of this partnership,” said Mary Beth Sewald, president and CEO of the Vegas Chamber. I learned a lot, especially since it was my 9th island. We are proud to be a sister community. But especially (Wednesday), I think we learned a lot of things that were really impactful and gave us a new appreciation for the culture here and respect for it.
“We now share a lot of membership. Companies here in Hawaii participate in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and vice versa,” Sewald said. “Some of our members are looking here. I think there's more synergy than we expected, which is great.”
The importance of this event was underscored by the attendance of Nevada Secretary of State Francisco V. Aguilar, who helped bring chef Michael Mina's strip steak to Waikiki as general counsel for management company Agassi Graf.
“I can now say there are more than 50 Michael Mina restaurants across the United States, but Honolulu was a testing point to see if we could prove the concept,” Aguilar said. “Business matters. I think this is very important and an important alliance that already exists between Nevada and Hawaii. We just need to continue that.”
Following this event, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce are now exploring state and federal policy solutions for economic development, said Paul J. Moradkan, Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for Government Affairs. He said that he plans to work on the preparation of a white paper. Investments in affordable housing, water, and transportation.
“The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce is proud to be a partner in the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and Industry,” said Hugh Anderson, managing director of Hightower Las Vegas and vice president of government affairs for the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. This is very important. ”
Mark Perriello, president and CEO of the Kauai Chamber of Commerce, announced that the next Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Business Exchange Summit will be held on Kauai, which has a sister city agreement with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce starting in 2021. He said he hopes to move to . The deal was a fallout from the pandemic and highlighted how many similarities there are between the Hawaiian Islands and Las Vegas, both of which rely on tourism.
Bennett E. Misarcha, executive director of the 41-member Workforce Development Council, which serves as planning and policy advisor to Gov. Josh Green on workforce issues, addressed those gathered at the summit. , said the 2022 data highlights a strong reliance on leisure and entertainment. Specifically, in Maui County and Kauai County, the hospitality industry accounts for 30.2% and 29.6% of employment, respectively. Misalucha said government and retail are also major employment sectors across the state and county.
Misalucha said Hawaii's lodging and food service industries are expected to see the largest growth in employment from 2020 to 2030, with employment in these industries increasing by 41,580 people from 69,750. He said he expected the number to grow to 111,330.
“Hawaii is a primarily low-skill, low-wage, service-based economy with a small job market and the highest cost of living in the country,” Misalucha said.
He said estimates of the living wage vary in Hawaii, but the consensus is that Hawaii has not reached it. Misalucha added that Hawaii is one of 10 states to experience a decline in population, and has seen its population decline for three consecutive years since 2017. The state said it is committed to strengthening old careers and enabling new career paths to living-wage jobs with the fair upward mobility that society needs. Build a globally competitive and inclusive economy.
Kuhio Lewis, CEO of the Council for the Advancement of Native Hawaiians, told those attending the event that more than 50% of Native Hawaiians currently live outside the state. Lewis said that's why CNHA will hold its new mainland annual conference, the Western Regional Native Hawaiian Conference, for the first time in Las Vegas in 2023, from which the voice of national mediators will emerge. .
In Hawaii, CNHA's tourism division, Kilohana, currently has a $27 million, multi-year contract from the Hawaii Tourism Authority to provide support services for destination management. Lewis said CNHA's vision for mainland expansion includes everything from workforce, business and cultural development programs to financing programs.
“Las Vegas is the city with the third largest Hawaiian population,” he says.
Lewis said holding the conference in Las Vegas is a way to give Hawaiians an identity and support them culturally and in other ways. He said this is also a way to ensure that as populations move, “resources intended to support and uplift our culture and people continue to go to them.”